Chapter 348 - FINNEA'S CURSE - DONE!

"I treated you like a real friend. And this is how you repaid me? By cursing me to death?!" Eclipse shouted once again, tears kept falling from his eyes. 

It was not the kind of 'pretty' crying that Luo Yan would do. Instead, it was messy, full of tears and snots. As if the one he was talking to really did harm him. In fact, he almost looked like some vengeful ghost. Well, at least, his truly doing his best to fulfill his master's order. 

Luo Yan no longer looked at Eclipse so as not to get distracted. He just focused all his attention to Rhys. That way, the moment he showed a strong reaction, he would then put the talisman on him. 

Just like expected, the moment Eclipse started acting, Rhys' eyes focused on him. Then when he started crying and acted hysterically, the elf's body twitched. Then to all their surprise, Rhys suddenly rushed forward towards where Eclipse was. But because of the barrier, he could not directly go to him. He could only tap the barrier helplessly.

"Fi… Fi… Finnea!"

Luo Yan smiled when he saw that. He quickly acted and used his skill [Shadow Walk]. He dived into his shadow and went inside the barrier. He knew it would be dangerous because of the dark magic floating around inside. But he didn't care. It's not like he would die in real life. The worst-case scenario would be him dying at the middle of the task. But before that happened, he would make sure to attach the black talisman he's holding on the elf's back.

Only the upper half of his body got out of the shadow. Because if he fully got out, then he would be a bigger target for the dark magic residue. As expected, the moment he appeared, the black smoke inside the barrier went crazy and attacked him. He though he heard Shen Ji Yun's voice calling his name. But he was too focused on what he was doing that he didn't pay too much attention to it. 

He dodged the incoming black smoke and then quickly attached the talisman he was holding on Rhys' back. After successfully doing that, he immediately dived back into his shadow. When he jumped out, he was already back on the other side. Before he could celebrate his success, Shen Ji Yun suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Brother Ji Yun, did you see—"

"That was reckless, Yan Yan!" Shen Ji Yun said before Luo Yan could finish.

When Eclipse suddenly transformed into Luo Yan, he was completely taken aback. Especially when the other suddenly burst into hysterical crying. He had no time to feel any sort of emotion upon seeing that when he caught the real Luo Yan suddenly disappearing. Before panic set in, he saw him appearing inside the barrier. His heart almost jumped to his throat when he saw that. Especially when that black smoke tried to attack Luo Yan. 

And then, as quickly as the upper half of his body appeared inside the barrier, he disappeared again. What followed next was Shen Ji Yun telling him how reckless he was.

Luo Yan saw worry and a bit of anger on Shen Ji Yun's face. He was about to explain when he saw the transparent crystal ball on the other's hand started shining. At the same time, Eclipse also turned back into his original form and quickly jumped into Luo Yan's arms.

[Mashter, did you see it? Did I do a good job?] – Eclipse asked with his eyes shining brightly.

Luo Yan ruffled his fluffy head. [Yes, you were splendid.]

The little fox grinned and buried his face into Luo Yan's arms.

Luo Yan turned his gaze towards the crystal ball. Shen Ji Yun did so as well, temporarily putting off his talk with Luo Yan.

The light that shone in the crystal ball slowly gathered inside and then the light shot into a straight line towards the wall. Soon, a scene appeared. As if the crystal ball acted like some sort of projector showing some kind of movie.

On it, Rhys who looked much healthier was talking to a gentle looking young man. The latter was wearing a white robe that only priests from the Tower of Edia could wear. 

"That's Lars," the High Priest suddenly spoke, confirming what Luo Yan have already guessed.

***

"I- I really can't do it, Rhys. It's forbidden for any priests in the Tower to show outsider the Heart of Edia." – Lars said, his face full of anxiousness.

"Lars, please. I need a special type of Mana for this spell to work. And only the Heart of Edia fulfills that qualification. You know how long I've been working on this spell. It's my life's work. Please, help me," Rhys said in a voice full of pleading.

"Rhys, I—"

Rhys suddenly reached out to Lars' hands, holding it tight in his own hands. Then he kneeled down and put the other's knuckles on his forehead. "Please, Lars. I'm begging you. If you don't help me, I'll die. I- I need to make this spell work. Please, Lars. Please…"

Lars looked at the trembling man in front of him. His face was still full of hesitation. Then he closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were now filled with determination. As if he had already made a decision.

"Okay."

Rhys suddenly stood up and hugged Lars. "Thank you, Lars. Thank you!"

Lars appeared surprised. But then, after a while, a helpless smile appeared on his face. He returned the other's hug. A faint blush appearing on both of his cheeks.

***

The scene then changed with Rhys guiding a female elf into a room. The female elf had long white hair flowing freely behind her back and a pair of green eyes dusted with gold. This elf was no doubt Finnea.

The room they walked in looked like a greenhouse because of all the plants inside. And then, on the center of it was a floating red crystal. It was shaped like an eight-pointed star. The red sheen it was giving off was very resplendent and captivating.

"Is this the crystal we need to take?" Finnea asked, looking at the red crystal with amazement. 

"Yes," Rhys replied while carefully walking behind Finnea, a weird smile appearing on his face.

"It's a shame that Alicia wasn't able to see this. I wonder where that girl went. But really, I can't believe that the Tower would actually stole—"

Finnea wasn't able to finish what she was saying because she suddenly fainted. It was obviously the work of Rhys. The elf quickly caught the unconscious Finnea. He picked her up and then put her under the floating red crystal. 

After that, he started to write complicated glyphs on the floor. Those glyphs surrounded Finnea into a one big symbol. Then he stood up and punctured his forefinger. A drop of blood fell on the symbol. The moment it did, the symbol glowed red. It created some kind of barrier around Finnea.

Rhys started to mutter some kind of spell. The light on the red crystal suddenly became concentrated and it fell on the unconscious Finnea. It directly shot to her chest, specifically on the area where her heart was. And weirs symbols started to appear on her skin.

The moment Rhys saw that, he started laughing. "Finally, finally! Just a bit more and you'll be mine!"

"What are you doing?!" suddenly shouted by an intruder.

Rhys looked back and saw the familiar face of his friend. "Lars, you're here. Did you come to witness the success of my lifelong dream?"

Lars stared at the crazy smile on Rhys' face and then he turned his gaze to the unconscious moon elf lying on top of a magic symbol. The light on the red crystal was continuously pouring on her chest. 

He gritted his teeth. "So, this is what you need the Heart of Edia for? To change the feelings of this moon elf and make her love you?" 

"Yes. She should have been mine, you see? If she hadn't met that pesky moon elf, we would have been together by now. She would have borne my son! Not some other man's. Yes, that's right. It should have been me!" Rhys shouted, his eyes filled with that crazy glint. Then his expression became tranquil. "But no matter, after this, she would only have eyes for me. I'm the only one she would love. And she would forget that moon elf and their bastard son." He chuckled. "Maybe I would even ask her to kill them. I'm sure she would be more than glad to do so."

Lars did not respond to that. Instead, he walked towards the red barrier. Then he raised his head and looked at Rhys.

"Rhys, do you know? I'm in love with you."

As soon as he said that, he flung his arm and Rhys was suddenly thrown into the distance. Chains appeared and attached his whole body on the ground. 

"That why I wouldn't let you have this woman."

"You- what are you going to do?"

Lars smiled, one might call it gentle, but underneath, it was full of sadness. He didn't reply to Rhys and turned back towards the barrier. He then slashed both his wrists, blood flowed down uncontrollably. Then he began to utter a spell. His blood mingled with the glyphs on the symbol. 

"No… no… stop! Lars stop!"

The barrier then broke. Lars walked towards the unconscious moon elf. He knelt down and began to cast another spell before pulling a small knife and stabbing it to his own heart. The light coming from the red crystal finally stopped pouring. 

Finnea groaned in pain. She slowly opened her eyes and saw a priest with a knife on his chest. "You—"

She wasn't able to finish what she was saying because her body was suddenly racked in indescribable pain. 

Lars coughed up blood. "I- I'm sorry… y-you're going to die soon. T-the least I could d-do is to br-bring you to the people you l-love."

With his hand trembling, he put his forefinger on Finnea's forehead. Then the moon elf vanished.

"Finnea!!!" cried Rhys from a distance.

Lars slowly turned to Rhys' direction, the action made him coughed up blood more. "Y-you see, she didn't appear beside you. That moon elf, she doesn't have y-you in h-her heart at all."

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Rhys shouted, looking at Lars with murder in his eyes. 

Seeing that, Lars could only laugh deprecatingly. "Goodbye, Rhys. I love you."

He closed his eyes, a single tear flowed down his cheek. And then he fell back, completely lifeless.

Rhys stared at this scene. And then an animalistic roar full of anguish escaped his mouth.

***

After that scene, a notification bell sounded and the Gamekeeper appeared in front of Luo Yan and Shen Ji Yun.

[Congratulations, dear players, for successfully finishing the hidden task – 'Finnea's Curse!']